'This is a sales tactic': Experts warn ransomware hackers will often lower their prices - with some giving…
- NordStellar finds many ransomware negotiations go unpaid, usually at steep discounts (median 57%, max 96.2%)
- Attackers used varied tactics: bundling “services,” offering fake security audits, proof of data, press threats, GDPR violations, and price manipulation
- Leaking stolen files remained the dominant pressure tactic (76.8%), but deadlines were often bluffs designed to push victims into paying
While threatening to leak stolen data is still the most effective negotiation strategy in ransomware attacks, it’s not the only one, as new research from NordStellar has found cybercriminals employ a whole range of tactics, from significant discounts, to providing “security audits and reports” to the victims.
The company recently analyzed 246 leaked conversations between ransomware groups and victim companies that took place between 2020 and 2026.
A quarter (25.6%) ended up paying, but the vast majority of those did not pay the asking price. The median discount in those payments was 57%, while the...
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